Academic Journal
Acupuncture as a complex adaptive system: A theoretical reflection on therapeutic effectiveness and emergent healing.
| Τίτλος: | Acupuncture as a complex adaptive system: A theoretical reflection on therapeutic effectiveness and emergent healing. |
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| Συγγραφείς: | Quiroz-González S; Department of Acupuncture and Rehabilitation, State University of Ecatepec Valley, Ecatepec State of México, Mexico. Electronic address: sqg20@yahoo.com.mx., Rodríguez-Torres EE; Center for Research in Mathematics, Hidalgo State Autonomous University (UAEH), Pachuca, Mexico. |
| Πηγή: | Explore (New York, N.Y.) [Explore (NY)] 2026 Mar-Apr; Vol. 22 (2), pp. 103339. Date of Electronic Publication: 2026 Jan 29. |
| Τύπος έκδοσης: | Journal Article; Review |
| Γλώσσα: | English |
| Στοιχεία περιοδικού: | Publisher: Elsevier Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 101233160 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1878-7541 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 15508307 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Explore (NY) Subsets: MEDLINE |
| Imprint Name(s): | Original Publication: New York, NY : Elsevier, c2005- |
| Ιατρικοί όροι (MeSH): | Acupuncture Therapy* , Systems Theory*, Humans ; Treatment Outcome |
| Περίληψη: | Scientific understanding of acupuncture has advanced rapidly, yet its therapeutic effectiveness remains only partially explained by linear or reductionist models centered on neural or biochemical pathways. This article offers a theoretical reflection and conceptual proposal framing acupuncture as a complex adaptive system, in which healing emerges from dynamic interactions among practitioner, patient, and context. Drawing on systems theory and complexity science, the therapeutic process is conceptualized through an Input-Process-Output-Feedback (IPOF) model that captures biological, psychological, and relational dimensions of regulation. Within this framework, effectiveness is understood as an emergent property arising from recursive feedback loops that integrate sensory, cognitive, and emotional signals into systemic coherence. Acupuncture's outcomes thus transcend isolated mechanisms, reflecting the co-regulation of two living systems that evolve together across treatment sessions. This perspective encourages a shift from reductionist causality toward emergent functionality, in which effectiveness results from configuration rather than isolation. By reframing acupuncture within a systems-based paradigm, this reflection invites a more integrative understanding of therapeutic emergence, bridging experimental mechanisms with real-world effectiveness and fostering a science of dynamic healing. (Copyright © 2026 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.) |
| Competing Interests: | Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper. |
| Contributed Indexing: | Keywords: Acupuncture; Complex adaptive systems; Emergent effectiveness; Patient expectation; Systems theory; Therapeutic alliance |
| Entry Date(s): | Date Created: 20260205 Date Completed: 20260706 Latest Revision: 20260708 |
| Update Code: | 20260709 |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.explore.2026.103339 |
| PMID: | 41643250 |
| Βάση Δεδομένων: | MEDLINE |
| ISSN: | 1878-7541 |
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| DOI: | 10.1016/j.explore.2026.103339 |